This week's recalls: Audi, Fiat, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mini, Ram

In case you missed it: Vehicle recalls that came across our desk during the past week. Materials for this recap are received via email from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) copied directly from the www.safercar.gov website.

2017 Audi A3, S3Units Affected 11,618

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

If the air bag deploys with more force than intended, it can increase the risk of injury.

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in April 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q3.

If the vehicle does not accelerate as expected, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 5, 2017. Owners may the Fiat Information Center at 1-888-242-6342. Chrysler's number for this recall is T19.

2003 Honda Accord

Units Affected 37,421

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Honda Accord Coupe vehicles, equipped with a four-cylinder engine. If the passenger frontal air bag module has been replaced, such as after a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, the replacement air bag module may include a Takata air bag inflator. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any Takata inflator used in the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 1, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF0.

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 24, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.

2017 Hyundai Elantra

Units Affected 99

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Elantra vehicles. The affected vehicles may have a damaged Electronic Power Steering (MDPS) connector resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.

Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS motor, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-243-7766. Hyundai's number for this recall 161.

Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine, replacing the engine short block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 19, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 162.

Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 25, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.

2016-2017 Mini Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman

Units Affected 16,883

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman vehicles. When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the vehicle to correct the brake lighting, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 22, 2017. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

A broken or locked up differential may result in a loss of motive power and possibly a loss of vehicle control. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the differential retaining pin, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 7, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T20.

Note for all recalls: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Worried that you might have missed a recall on your car? Now you can look it up yourself online => https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/.

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